For future reference, those that don't get their news to me in a timely manner will suffer the consequences. I will just have to write it myself. As a matter of distinction, I will put these in italics so you can tell the difference, just in case it's not ridiculous enough to tell by reading it.
ELDER AND SISTER NIELSON
Dear family,
I decided to be part of the family newsletter! Not that I have any more news than I’m already scraping up to send to you each week! We have been in North Carolina almost a month now and we are still loving the place. We love the people too. We asked ourselves now that we’re into it, do we want to do it again? And, boy, the jury is still out on that one! We are liking teaching and other than that the things that I like best, he doesn’t and the things he likes, I don’t. No surprises there, huh? but we are compromising pretty good and really learning to appreciate each other’s strengths. I do appreciate him dragging me out the door kicking and screaming, I really do.
For anybody who is wondering, I have no idea what my weight is doing. I left my scales at home which is pretty scary. I have been exercising every day and trying to be careful but I don’t think my weight is going down. I really hope it isn’t going up! Dail goes walking sometimes and sometimes rides the stationary bike that he bought. He hates being around the apartment. He loves being at the institute building. I go with him and count the minutes until I can come home again.
I miss the children! I didn’t realize how much until I found myself a lot more interested in the children that were at the museum that we went to on Saturday than I was in any of the exhibits! We just don’t see many children here.
I am so thankful for all of you who take the time to send me a note. We are always hungry for news of the family. I am going to start emailing some quotes, and maybe scriptures on the weekdays when I don’t write. I found some that made me smile and I want to share those smiles. Some of you really need them. If you don’t, just add them to your junk mail. Have a happy June. I love you all. Mom
BENGE
May is so very vague. It was days ago.
But I just got in from checking on a funny little leak in my yard. A sprinkler wasn't working, and there was a little bubble of water near it. Digging down, I found that the pipe was broken and stuck in the cement of the fence that had been put up after our windstorm. Cutting out the pipe, I discovered that the PVC pipe is filled with post cement, and goes on quite a ways. I am in awe, and thinking about it elicits little sounds and thoughts that are reminiscent of Crush, the turtle. Whoa, dude!
Isaac has graduated from high school. Yay! But it is not really a shocker. He is looking for more/better employment until he can leave on a mission.
Gideon got a job at Dairy Queen. Yay! And thanks, Isaac. We are following in the proud tradition of some of Susan's sisters. I mean Susie's.
Susan likes being called Susie. I like it, too, but I forget to use it. I just am not sure how to spell it. Susie? Suzy? Siouxsie? Soozee? We could make her the centerpiece of my eternally hypothetical band--Siouxsee and the Bengees!
Speaking of music, our stake's production of Savior of the World has been moved up to August, and we will be performing in the Peery Egyptian Theatre in downtown Ogden as part of the temple open house activities. That will be especially good for Gideon, as they moved the high school musical up, too.
I wish you could also how Esther lurches when she tries to nod. It is awesome.
Talking with Hannah on Mother's Day was awesome.
To conclude, I would like to paraphrase the words of a song that will now stick in your head for the next 48 hours, if you know the tune:
Everyone is awesooooome!
Everyone is cool and they're part of my team!
Everyone is awesooooome!
Soozee fell for my scheme ...
Love y'all!
NIELSON, C
JOHNSON
Here is the news from the Johnson Family:
We have been working hard on our garden, and finally got it planted on Saturday (the 24th of May). We hope that all our hard work pays off in the late summer and early fall. But if not, we've developed a few muscles, and had some bonding hard work experiences, and I guess we can always try again next year so it will all somehow be worth it. I have been blowing off every other responsibility in life in order to get the garden in while it is still gardening season, so it is with great relief that we greet the end of the school year and begin our beloved days of summer. Although some of you might be surprised to hear that my summer school plans are much more disorganized than usual. We're wingin' it this year. There aren't as many cool posters as most years. Oh, well.
Today we spent the afternoon getting ready to set up the pool. Life is sweet--and I can't wait to swim. I think we are the only ones to be already officially out of school. So nanner-nanner for now--but I'll be eating my words when we start back up by the 13th of August. That is about the extent of the excitement around here. It's enough for me. I'm really feeling like the less that is happening the better. So we're good. Hope you are all happy, too.
Love you!
Kari
P.S. I'm inserting a photo of our beautiful garden thus far. Act really impressed even if you aren't because a lot of time, money, effort, stress, and sweat has gone in to this baby--and we are proud parents.
HARDMAN
Hardman news is pretty boring except that Charlie got a new car. It's a 2000 Ford Focus, and she loves it. We may never see her again now that she doesn't have to borrow a vehicle.
Jimmy is not doing very well, so please remember him in your prayers. He writes a happy email out to everyone, but he writes to us that he is depressed and sad and struggling. I wish there was more we could do for him.
I turned 40, which wasn't that fun, except my boss sent me off for a massage and pedicure on my birthday, so that was awesome. The rest of the day I spent co-signing on Char's car loan and running kids around. I did, however, wish on my birthday candles, so here's hoping. . .
We set up the pool in the backyard after rigging a chicken-wire/white trash fence to keep the neighborhood kids from drowning.
Jacob said his summer goals are to train for and do a triathlon, buy a 3DX, get a girlfriend, and become Spiderman. He said he doesn't think the girlfriend thing will happen though. I guess he doesn't see any problem about the Spiderman thing. . .?
Aside from that, everything is normalish. Abby got a hair cut, and she's super cute. She's at girl's camp this week. We are running a 5K as a family on Saturday. Go Hardmans! And that's pretty much it.
NIELSON, J
The Nielson family is roiling in turmoil. Dora has declared herself ruler of the underground mole people. Her parents want to support her in this decision, but it's difficult as Alice and Lucy have decided to stage an uprising, stating that it is just not right to have to follow a younger sister. Will it all end in violence, or will cooler heads prevail?
NIELSON, S
Not content with the number of wiggly bodies in their home, Sam and Marilyn have decided it's time to adopt a pet. Not content with the obvious choices, they have finally settled on getting a griffin. As this is an animal that doesn't actually exist, Sam and Marilyn have dived into genetic manipulation. They are still waiting on the delivery of an eagle egg to complete their experiment. Good luck guys.
HUNT
Hello all, this last month of school was tough for Gwen. She was really sick of school and would fight us almost every single day about going. But she did get to go on a couple of field trips and was very cute during her singing program. Once school ended, She told me that during summer no one could tell her what to do, she was taking a vacation from it.
Ella won't take naps anymore, at least she lasted longer than Gwen did, eighteen months instead of one year. Ella loves to get into drawers now and open anything she can. She also gets very offended when I tell her no.
Within the last week all four of us got sick. Abe and Ella got the worst of it, Ella with goop coming out her eyes and Abe by rupturing his right ear drum. Abe's mom also broke her left arm while trying to help us with our rain gutters. The ladder collapsed under her. Abe spent the day with her at the hospital.
As for me, I'm still an up and down roller coaster of emotions, trying not to go crazy. Gwen and I have been reading the Junie B. Jones books together and they make me laugh but I am also really glad that my children are not like that. Anyway until next month here's a hug and a kiss.
Jane
FROYD
Well, our month was full of the same old dance with the government, this time brought to insane proportions. We kept getting the weirdest requests, like a tip sheet for Sandin's business. WHAT? Linaya is doing good, she's playing nearly everyday with her friends, sometimes she gets multiple requests. One day she went to a friends house and while she was gone she had the door ring for her four times. Crazy!
Well, as some of you know and other's do not, I've joined Liz in the expecting mother camp. That's right I'm pregnant (hopefully you caught on this is Katy writing). Surprise! Anyway that's about all I want to say about that.
Woo hop, just heard, we're finally covered medically again, Yeah!
ADAMS
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Like last months recipe, this one was something I threw together with what I had on hand, but it ended up, well I almost don't dare say, if I over hype it some might be disappointed. Let's just say it was better than I could have hoped for and ended up with little leftovers.
FYI: for this and all future recipes be aware ALL onions in my recipes are sweet onions.
Fiesta Casserole
1/2 cube butter
1/2 onion diced
1/4 c. flour
1 1/2 c. brown rice, cooked
1 1/2 c. shredded cooked chicken
1 can corn, drained
1 c. salsa
1 can cr. of chicken soup
Put butter and onion in bottom of crock pot and heat until butter is melted, add flour. Add rest of ingredients and stir. Heat for 2-3 hours or until thoroughly hot. Garnish with sour cream to taste.
